Gustafsson: PPV to Fight Pass ‘sucks a little bit’
When Alexander Gustafsson was asked how it felt to go from the main event of a PPV to the main event of a Fight Pass Show, he said “Well, that sucks a little bit.”
No. 1 ranked light heavyweight Alexander Gustafsson will face No. 11 ranked Jimi Manuwa in the main event of UFC Fight Night 38, and Gustafsson will be looking for a win to launch him toward another shot at UFC gold
The last time Alexander Gustafsson was in the cage, he won Fight of the Night and Fight of the Year vs. UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones in the main event of UFC 165, live on PPV. While Jones got the unanimous decision, many fans felt “The Mauler” won the fight, and everyone including Jones agreed that that was his toughest fight.
No one would have been surprised with an immediate rematch, but Jones is next fighting #2 ranked Glover Teixeira, in the main even of UFC 172, live on PPV. Gustafsson is fighting #11 ranked Jimi Manuwa in the main event of UFC Fight Night 38 on March 8.
UFC Fight Night 38 on March 8 is not on PPV. In the USA it is not on FOX. It is not on FOX Sports 1. It will stream live on UFC Fight Pass.
Gustaffson appeared recently on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, and asked how it felt to go from the top of a PPV to the top of Fight Pass.
“Well, that sucks a little bit,” he explained accurately. “I didn’t know about that until just a few weeks ago, but a fight is a fight.”
“I think Jimi Manuwa is a very dangerous fighter. I think with this ranking system he’s a lot better than the guys that are higher ranked. He’s a very dangerous fighter that has been sneaking around the shadows. Nobody knows about him, but he’s very dangerous. So, I’m really looking forward to the fight on Saturday.”